Cleveland Browns Rumors: Odell Beckham Jr. Could Be On The Move Again
As the Cleveland Browns continue their offseason roster reshuffle, rumors suggesting that a prominent wide receiver isn’t part of their 2020 plans are getting louder.
Bleacher Report‘s Joe Tansey pointed out that conflicting reports about whether Odell Beckham Jr. will be moving on are emerging. ESPN Radio’s Bart Scott came out last week and proclaimed that the three-time All-Pro is going to be traded. Scott didn’t offer any theories as to who Beckham Jr. might eventually be traded for, but made it clear he was hearing the rumors of the receiver being on the trading block — stating that these whispers were “real.”
On Twitter, sports reporter Charles Robinson said that he doesn’t believe Beckham Jr. is someone Cleveland is desperate to deal. Robinson claimed he was told that, at least since new head coach Kevin Stefanski was brought in, “things have been very positive” for both sides.
It appears most of the talk of either Beckham Jr. — or the Browns’ other wide receiver, Jarvis Landry — being dealt has to do with the team picking up former Atlanta tight end Austin Hooper in free agency. Despite the free agency pickup, Tansey says keeping Beckham in town would mean that Stefanski has a plethora of offensive weapons to surround quarterback Baker Mayfield.
If everyone stays put, Mayfield would have Beckham, Landry, Hooper and tight end David Njoku to throw to. On the ground, Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb could cause problems for opposing defensive squads. Both OBJ and Landry managed to surpass the 1,000-yard mark through the air in 2019, with Landry leading the team in receptions with 83.
The Browns entered last season feeling equally optimistic about their offense, but Mayfield’s struggles with interceptions sunk a season that began with playoff hopes for the moribund franchise.
Some predictions even had them — under head coach Freddie Kitchens — contending for a Super Bowl berth, according to USA Today. A 6-10 campaign, and rumblings that several of the players weren’t happy with the week-to-week offensive gameplans, eventually led to Kitchens getting the boot.
Towards the end of the year, several Browns players were reportedly talking about wanting a trade out due to how bad things had gotten in the clubhouse. Beckham Jr. was rumored to be one member of the team who was vocal in wanting to be traded away. With a new head coach in town, it’s possible Odell Beckham Jr. and the Cleveland Browns are ready for a brand new start. At the same time, he may be shipped out in order to continue the Browns’ rebuild.
